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Rockford Park District company history timeline

1909

The Rockford Park District was formed in 1909 and is the third largest park and recreation system in Illinois.

1917

September 1917: The first draftees arrive.

Compare with the 1917 photograph of Sunset Park and the partial photo of this one Note the concession window, the door, and the smaller window.

Several attendees were surprised to learn that one of the district’s parks was once home to a zoo, with a monkey, lion and an elephant for a few years beginning in 1917.

1918

Camp Grant would train 56,238 troops during WWI, with an estimated one million people passing through in some capacity.September 1918: An influenza epidemic sweeps the area, closing all schools and public places.

November 1918: "The Great War" ends and troops return home.

1921

Camp Grant remained an army post until it became home to the Illinois National Guard in 1921.

1940

Camp Grant remained an army post until it became home to the Illinois National Guard in 1921. It remained home to the Illinois National Guard until 1940.

1947

September 1947: The majority of Camp Grant buildings are torn down.

1956

Fall 1956: Seth B. Atwood donates the money to the Rockford Park District for them to purchase the land.

1957

1957: The Rockford Park District began a residential program at the Atwood Log Lodge.

Present: Since its opening in 1957, the Outdoor Recreation and Education program has provided memorable experiences to more than 400,000 participants throughout the Rockford and surrounding areas!

1960

1960: The current Atwood Lodge was completed.

1970

The Music in the Park series was established in 1970 and has included performances by such notables as Jose Feliciano, Lou Rawls, Roberta Flack, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Chuck Mangione.

1981

Source: Rockford Register Star, June 6, 1981

1990

Register Star, July 21, 1990, Ben Rand.

1996

Marva’s been associated with the Rockford Park District since 1996, when her seven-year-old grandson, James Lesley Harkins III, tragically lost his life in a drowning at the District’s Fairgrounds Pool.

2002

Source: Rockford Register Star, June 14, 2002

2010

formerly known as Waterside Park was renamed Joe Marino Park, July 4, 2010

Source: Rockford Register Star 7/5/2010

2015

Source: Growing the Midwest Garden, by Edward Lyon, Timber Press, 2015, p.73.

2017

2017 marks the 100 year anniversary of the first soldiers arriving for training at Camp Grant.

2020

Sinnissippi Music Shell on Thursday, May 7, 2020, in Rockford.

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Rockford Park District may also be known as or be related to Rockford Park District and Rockford Park District,Illinois.